After bagging Cannon in the morning, I bagged Flume and Liberty together on a rainy afternoon down in the notch and snowy day on the summits. Doing the Flume Liberty loop I decided to ascend via Flume Slide and descend via Liberty Springs and it was a good choice. I climbed both of these in July as part of doing the full Pemi-Loop but I now needed to finish off an AT segment of the Liberty Springs trail so I came back and figured I re-bag both.

The flume slide trail was very hard since it was icy but the seeps had water running over the ice to make it even more treacherous. I worked hard and climbed it without traction but when I got to the ridge trail and some flat ground where I put on my microspikes for the rest of the trip and traction in the snow and ice was MUCH better. I wish I had done that before I reached the slide!

The two summits were beautiful in their fury covered in ice and snow with 25F temps and winds topping out at 28MPH that was pinging snow and sleet off my glasses.

The trail down Liberty Springs was much easier than Flume Slide. The campsite was filled with campers but I had decided to camp down in the valley anyways where the winds, snow and temps were more accommodating.

Did this mountain as part of the Franconia Ridge loop; an 8.9 mile trail over 6 summits, including Lafayette. Cold, icy, very windy, exhausting, but exhilarating with excellent views of the Pemigewasset Wilderness when the weather is clear.

First peak summitted while doing the section of AT from Franconia Notch to Crawford Notch with my brothers. We had stayed at Liberty Springs tentsite on Sunday night and were heading to the Franconia Ridge.

Took the Flume Slide Trail up, it is as reported and maybe even a bit worse. Had some rain in days preceeding the hike and the trail being part brook was intense. Leaving trailhead at 5:30 gave me both Flume and Liberty with complete solitude, only saw one set of tracks on top. Met the crowds on the way down, glad I got off early before all the unprepared tourists. If you have loved ones in this world and aren't a true seasoned hiker, for their sake don't take the Flume Slide Trail, its a dangerous pissa of a climb.

Did a Pemi Loop over 2.5 days with a couple of friends. Going counter clockwise, camped at Guyot and Garfield tent sites. Saw an awesome lightning over a town to the north storm from Garfield; got hailed on in a lightning storm on the way out on the last day. Had a bottle of Bowmore with us.

Awesome hiking up Flume Slide, reaching Mt Flume on clear skies, just a bit hazy in the distance. Crossing on to Mt Liberty and racing to the top! Down Liberty Spring trail. Beautiful day, great views and photos, awesome mountains!